Pro Football: Chicago Bears linebackers entrenched in battle

BOURBONNAIS — As soon as the Chicago Bears kicked off training camp Friday, the linebackers started their battle.

Since stepping onto the field at Olivet Nazarene University, they’ve battled for position, battled for the ball and battled for respect. And every linebacker on the Bears’ 90-man roster, with the exception of seven-time Pro Bowler Lance Briggs, is also battling for his NFL life.

After Briggs — who, barring injury will start his 11th straight season opener as the weakside linebacker — everyone else in that group could be a starter by the 2014 opener or could be looking for a job.

“Oh yeah, there’s lots of competition out there, and lots of depth,” second-year linebacker Khaseem Greene said. “There’s a lot of guys that can play football, so we’ve all got to bring out the best in each other. That’s what you want in a team and in a group.”

Greene had the nicest defensive play Saturday, the second day of camp, tipping one to himself for a diving interception. He is in the mix at a couple of linebacker positions. He replaced Briggs, who missed seven games last year, at weakside linebacker, hauling in 33 tackles and an interception. He’s also athletic enough to play in the middle and with the nickel package, making him a hot commodity for a team looking to rebuild its linebacking corps.

“There’s a lot of talking and a lot of communicating. ... We’ve had a good start,” second-year head coach Marc Trestman said. His linebacker corps is nine deep on the roster. “We’ve got some smart guys back there. It appears, after a couple of days, we’re on the right track.”

Greene, the Bears’ fourth-round draft pick in 2013, joined Jon Bostic, the team’s second-round pick that year, as starting rookie linebackers for what turned out to be the worst defense in Bears history last year because of injuries. Chicago set franchise-lows in yards allowed (6,313), rushing yards allowed (2,583) and points given up (478), and it ranked last in run defense, allowing 5.35 yards per carry on the ground.

But Greene and Bostic gained valuable experience, and they’re hoping it will pay dividends this year.

“I think it was big,” Bostic said. “Even through good times and bad times, I was still able to learn a lot, and like I said, they’re making some adjustments this year that will make it a lot more natural for me.”

Bostic is more suited to play the weakside backer, where he is expected to someday take over for Briggs. For now he’s getting a crash course at every linebacker spot. He’s going toe to toe with DJ Williams, the 10-year veteran who missed much of last year with a torn pectoral muscle, for the starting slot in the middle.

“Really, I have to just be ready for everything,” Bostic said. “I’m comfortable with ‘MIKE,’ but I still know that I’m not where I want to be. Being able to take reps at ‘SAM’ and ‘WILL’ has helped me to learn the defense as well, and I’m comfortable at those spots, too.”

The Bears recently added another to the mix. Shea McClellin was moved in the off-season from defensive end to strongside backer, where he’s battling Bostic for the right to hear his name called with the starters. McClellin was an outside linebacker in a 3-4 in college, but he was immediately moved to the line when the Bears drafted him as their first pick in 2013.

This is seen as McClellin’s last chance to make it as a Bear. If he fails at linebacker, he will most likely fade away.

Like the rest of them, though, the pressure doesn’t seem to bother the third-year player out of Boise State.

“I wouldn’t say the heat is on. We’re out here competing, like everyone else,” said McClellin, who was tied for second on the team with four sacks to go along with his 30 tackles from his D-end spot last year. “Everyone is out there giving his best and, at the end of the day, whatever happens, happens.”

What happened last year was, the defense fell apart. What the Bears are hoping for this year is that a recharged linebacking crew can help turn things around.